Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) sign memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Rector’s Courtroom of Central Building dr. Prakoso, Wednesday (May 5, 2016). UUM is represented by Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani and UNS is represented by Vice Rector for Partnership and Planning Affairs Widodo Muktiyo. He comes as UNS’ representative since Rector of UNS Ravik Karsidi is having a meeting with Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya to talk about some discussions which one of them is about campus’ expansion which later will take the land owned by Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

The signature is related to researches about Southeast Asia. In addition, it also related to Central Study of Southeast Asia of LPPM UNS headed by Ig. Agung Satyawan and Idea Study Center Dr. Mahatir Mohamad of UUM.

Widodo says that as the existance of MEA makes the researches are not only in socio-cultural nuances, but also social-politic. Meanwhile, Zaharuddin says a thank to UNS as their willingness to cooporate again considering that the cooporation between them is long-standing previously in regard to studies of Malay in UNS. He also hopes that any mistakes or maybe the things have not developed from the previous cooperation can be a great lesson.[] (dodo.red.uns.ac.id)